NAMA Commences Area Radar Control by May 30

Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) is to commence full area radar control by the end of this month as all the necessary logistics have been put in place by the agency to run a hitch free air traffic operation.

Engineer Nnamdi  Udoh, managing director of the Agency, who disclosed this in Lagos at the weekend said 22 air traffic controllers drawn from Lagos and Kano area control centres  have been specially trained on en-route  area radar control for a seamless air traffic service within the nation's airspace.

Supo Atobatele, general manager, Public Affairs, NAMA, quoted the general manager saying that the selected controllers alongside some communication engineers completed their simulator training at the Lagos radar site on Friday to round up their schedule of trainings before embarking on the area radar control.

According to Udoh, the agency had since Thursday, May 2, issued Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) to all airlines in line with the mandatory 28 days notice required by industry regulation for a full trial of the new air traffic operation.

NAMA boss explained that the agency had equally upgraded the radar maps and harmonised its data base to allow for accurate co-ordination of traffic when the enroute area radar control is fully deployed.

Udoh said that the operational manual in respect of the area radar control has been submitted to the regulatory agency, NCAA for necessary approval, adding that NAMA has followed industry best acceptable practices before deploying this service to airlines.

He lauded the controllers for their interest and commitment to commence en- route radar control within the nation's airspace.